If you read it, this was an "aspirational" declaration Koby, with no legal standing - that was required to follow domestic laws and did not grant native people's any more powers then what those laws gave them.

The document has been drafted for years, and the Liberal governments were prime supporters of this draft. This rejection fits right in with the Conservative's antagonism in general towards the Native peoples since they took office.

The document has been drafted for years, and the Liberal governments were prime supporters of this draft

Actually, the Liberals under Martin still had some issues and were dragging their feet. Yet, we still came up with the Kelowna Accords.

We don’t need to sign idiotic, grandiose, multilateral paper documents just so we can ease our collective guilt and feel good about holding hands with other nations of the world (most who don’t face problems with indigenous people)

Scott Tribe" The Justice department has given clear advice on this manner over the years. Do not sign on. Signing on will have legal consquences. As it stands, the UN document will be brought up in furture land claims. The Justice Department is not alone in this regard and it an opinion held by people and groups on both sides of the political divide. For Christ sake what do you think they were arguing about for 20 years?